Space Systems Command
Space Systems Command, headquartered at Los Angeles Air Force Base in California, is the Space Force acquisition command for launch, satellites, and the ground systems that run them.
Live numbers for this buyer appear here once the data engine has loaded award history. The public sources are being read now.
What they buy
Space Systems Command buys launch services, satellites for navigation, communications, missile warning, and weather, and the ground stations, antennas, and software that control them. It also buys range and launch infrastructure at the Eastern and Western ranges and the engineering and test support that goes with all of it.
Under the satellites and launch vehicles sit precision machined structures, brackets, harnesses, radio frequency assemblies, circuit cards, ground support equipment, and test fixtures. Most of that hardware is bought by the primes and their subcontractors rather than by the command directly.
How they buy
Notices post on SAM.gov under the command's contracting offices. Launch and satellite production go to primes on large multi-year contracts. Prototypes and newer capabilities are often bought through other transaction agreements, including a consortium model where members can propose on solicitations that are not posted on SAM.gov.
Direct small business awards tend to be engineering services, test support, ground equipment, and small studies. The command publishes a small business forecast and uses sources sought and industry days heavily before larger buys.
How a small shop gets in
Register in SAM.gov and follow the Space Systems Command contracting offices. If you build hardware, the realistic route is a subcontract with a launch or satellite prime, and the award history will show which primes hold which programs.
Look at the consortium that supports the command's prototyping work, since membership is open to small firms and its solicitations are a way to get direct work. Contact the Space Systems Command small business office, respond to sources sought, and be ready to show AS9100 or a similar quality system, since space hardware buyers expect it.
Some buys never reach SAM.gov
Prototype work under other transaction agreements is often solicited only to consortium members. If you only watch SAM.gov, you will miss it.
Related guides
- Subcontracting to primesHow to get on a prime's approved supplier list.
- Space Launch Delta 45The Eastern Range and its local buys.
- Sources sought and RFIsRespond early to shape the set-aside decision.
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